After the great success of our kids club during our “Connect” mission, the team are working at the programme based around the theme of the Olympics which is appropriate for the month of August. The kids club will run for 4 evenings from Tuesday 26th August and will start at 7.00 pm until 8.30 pm and is geared at all kids who will be at primary school. We look forward to the support of kids for these 4 nights.

The Parish had a great Children’s Day service and picnic with wonderful weather and a great number staying for the food as the kids played and enjoyed being together. People of all ages worshipped and shared fellowship together. Thanks to the Sunday School teachers for organizing the service and picnic and to all the kids who took part in the service.

Many of our teenagers will also use the summer to be involved in Christian outreach camps particularly with Alliance Youth Works. Please encourage them as well as praying for them as they go in our name to tell others about Jesus. It is a real encouragement to the Parish to see these young people growing in their faith and being willing to go to other towns and be part of a team of young Christians.
In particular, please remember Ian McCaugherty as he takes a year with Alliance Youth Works and works with them in various Church situations. Ian will be based in Coleraine but we hope to have him in Christ Church over the next year. Ian has a vibrant faith and a willingness to take the next year working in the Church. Pray for his witness and as he encourages Church’s in their work with young people.

Blessings for the summer and all who will get time off to relax and recharge the batteries. If on holiday, check out the local church and support it. There is also the second film in the The Chronicles of Narnia, called “Prince Caspian” released this summer, so check it out. For families, remember we still have Junior Church for all primary aged children during morning worship at 10.30 am.

I recently visited the hostel at Flush Park and it was again a busy place with most rooms occupied by residents. One aspect that came to the fore in discussions was the need for people to be volunteers especially if someone could help out in the office answering the phone or to do some administration work. If anyone is interested, please contact me.
We will again support the Simon Community at the Youth Harvest service on the first Friday in October with tins of food.

On Sunday 25th May, Jeremy Bowden spoke of the witness of the Nightreach project at The Point in Lisburn on a Saturday  night.    Almost   60  people volunteer to work in 5 teams to give tea, coffee, soup, biscuits and a friendly face to those who leave The Point at around 1.00 am. Many Churches are involved in this project and I know that a number of people from our Church expressed interest in becoming a volunteer and going out with a team every 5 weeks. Anyone else interested should speak to me. Nightreach would also value people to commit to pray for the team as they go out each Saturday night.

As I begin these notes for the summer I want to mention a number of situations in which it is right to express congratulations:

Firstly to three girls from our GFS Branch for coming 1st in the All Ireland Scripture Exam in each of their age category. What an achievement for Emily Thompson, Vicky Thompson and Ashleigh Long. Each girl received a magnificent trophy from our Diocesan President, Mrs Margaret Curran at the GFS Display in May.

Secondly, to our Parish for winning the Best Website Competition. This competition is organized by the Press Office and the result was announced at General Synod in Galway. The Parish is indebted to Stirling McCoy for all his gifted work in creating the site and updating it.
Thirdly, to congratulate our Curate, Diane Matchett on her appointment as the new Rector of the Parish of Castlerock in the Diocese of Derry and Raphoe. Diane has been with us for 3 years and has been an integral part in our witness as a Parish and has brought her own gifts & bubbly personality to her position as Curate. We wish Diane and Mark God’s blessing as they move to Castlerock and begin a new ministry there. The date of Diane’s institution will be Friday 26th September.

The bishops of the Anglican Communion will be gathering at Lambeth in England from the 14th July to the 4th August. Much has been written about who will be coming or not coming as Churches like that in Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Sydney Diocese and from the Southern Cone have decided not to attend Lambeth. An alternative meeting is been organized from the 22nd June in Jerusalem with a round 1000 people attending, including 280 Bishops. That conference is called the Global Anglican Future Conference and those attending would represent around 35 millions Anglicans. Some Bishops will attend both conferences.

Anglicanism is at a crossroads with these 2 conferences meeting this summer. The battle is on for the heart of Anglicanism but especially if they want to proclaim the uniqueness of Jesus Christ and the authority of God’s Word in these changing times. Pray for the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams and his leadership, for the Bishops of the Church of Ireland and especially for our own Bishop Alan Abernethy, as they meet with other Bishops that they would be a focus of unity and lead the Church in its proclamation of the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Anything less and divisions will continue as the Gospel is watered down.